The weather is beautiful at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. SPEED has handled all the TV activity this weekend as ESPN has been busy with other non-motorsports programming.
The network steps away from golf and into NASCAR with coverage of the Nationwide Series beginning at 2:30PM ET. Allen Bestwick hosts the pre-race show with Rusty Wallace and Brad Daugherty. It's a shame ESPN did not let Bestwick call this race, since Bestwick is a New Englander and would be a great presence for the network in New Hampshire.
Instead, it will be Marty Reid working with Wallace and Ricky Craven in the booth. Dale Jarrett is off this weekend and Andy Petree brought a Modified car to the track and was going to race until he crashed in practice.
Dr. Jerry Punch, Vince Welch and Dave Burns will handle pit road. New Hampshire Motor Speedway can feature long green flag runs if the field gets stretched out or lots of cautions if things bottle up and the spinning begins on this flat track.
This is a layout where the TV director has to hustle. Flat-track racing means lots of camera cutting and quick incidents. Forcing in-car cameras into this broadcast can mean the loss of perspective for viewers and the potential to miss key incidents.
There are lots of Sprint Cup Series cross-over drivers today led by Brad Keselowski, who is on the pole. That means some drivers will flat-out be racing for the win, while the "regulars" will have to keep the season championship in mind.
This is the final dress rehearsal for ESPN. After this weekend, the network hosts both the Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series coverage until the end of the season. Marty Reid wanted the pressure and he has it. He will handle the top two NASCAR touring series telecast for the rest of the season.
This post will serve to host your comments about the ESPN coverage of the Nationwide Series race from the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. To add your TV-related opinion, just click on the comments button below. Thanks for stopping by.
152 comments:
Howdy folks, NNS racing from Loudon, NH.
Happy Double Header Race Weekend Planeteers <3
Hated that for Mr. Petree :(. But Dill Pickle called a great race! It was great to have Steve Park drop by.
Well guess we'll soon see if we have another KBShow or if a regular can win today. Of course, Interstate Batteries is hoping he does it tomorrow :).
Today is Ashley Allgaier's birthday & someone tweeted that if Mr. Alligator wins he should get out & let her do the donuts *giggles*
One hour pre-race show.
Pre race is way to long for such a short race. Dont get it. Guess Ill come back at 3.
Warm up for Cup. Dress rehearsal in many ways.
Craven's in the booth? He has a few stories about this place.
Imagine if it was Bestwick, Craven and Petree?
That trio might tell so many stories about races at Riverside and Stafford and Oxford Plains that viewers in the rest of the country gets lost.
Brad Daugherty = The largest NASCAR cheerleader in history.
Brad, Shutup.
Just realized, it is not a full field. Only 42 qualifiers.
Why is Jeff Gordon on the Nationwide Series pre-race show? Anyone?
All I can figure is that a couple of guys who are in CUP idolized him when they were younger. Since they haven't linked him to ONE N'wide regular no clue
Well they are talking about the Nationwide Series and young drivers. Ive enjoyed this segment
Bestwick just announced Carl Edwards is on the panel on the Monday roundtable. Is there anything he doesn't do?
Roland, nothing personal but those "young guys" were Cup drivers.
That TV time would have meant a lot to the NNS regulars.
No, Carl is the goldenchild of the NASCAR TV partners.
Kinda hard to grow a series when the network covering the series doesn't make the effort to. Instead of interviewing Jeff Gordon, they could've done a feature on the owner of Turner Motorsports and talk about his drivers and what made him want to buy into the Nationwide Series. That would've been interesting.
True but there are folks who could use the face time to say "hey this is so & so and here's my info" maybe bring on a sponsor or new fans for them.
Far be it for me to be the internet English police, but
Rusty, a present participle is a word that ends in “ing”
As a “professional” announcer, you should be aware of that fact.
Just ask Sterlin Marlin how that worked out for him.
outside of Mr. Alligator, have they interviewed ANY Cup Lite drivers??
Wow, JG sets it straight about the Kyle 100 win junk. Then Rusty and Brad sing his praises like he owns the company. Now that segment was a joke. I enjoyed the JG convo, but interviewing Kyle and Carl instead of Nationwide regulars dont set well with me. I really dont care what either one of them have to say. They get enough attention from the booth and camera operators anyway.
Man, that was just horrible.
loved the Gordon segments... he's so effortlessly entertaining and articulate..
If it wasnt for MRN/PRN my frustration level with Nascar and Espn would have peaked by now and to be honest I would have stopped watching Nationwide by now. I was just thinking to myself how bad it must feel to know the next 18 weeks are on Espn. Now their gonna hand it off to Marty the great. Thank you tunein!
Under no circumstances should Brad Daugherty be allowed to talk Nascar on TV. He has yet to add one good nugget of information to a telecast ever. It's a losing streak that is 2nd to none.
Nothing like two active owners as analysts.
I think I know what threw Bestwick off there on the opening ceremony. They seem to have dumped the Canadian national anthem.
Hi all for one of the best weekends in NASCAR. The good news is more in the Truck race. Good chances at first time winner maybe tonight?
However, we're stuck with another week of Cup Lites. First time i've seen a race at Loudon since 2008.
Pammmmm they calked for a hot minute to Ricky, Elliott & Reed
Brickyard advertisement win. All the relic photos of Earnhardt, Jarrett and Gordon.
The clips of Craven and Wallace winning are beautiful.
welp, isn't that special of them, Gymmie??? TV muted now, since RW is in the booth & that's too bad, cuz I really like Ricky.
This Gatorade ad is wayyyyyy toooo looooooooooongg....
OMG my home town gets mailbox. I lived in Whitestone till I was 4.
Reminder that the free scanners are at NASCAR.com today.
Grippier??? Rusty, is this how you spell grippier???
S&P dropping like flies.
Last week when I was trying to get the scanner to work I must have not clicked the NO box when I was at the site that asks if you want a quote from Nationwide Insurance.
I got a phone call from Nationwide Insurance on Wednesday. I explained I did not mean to check the box for a quote. He said fine but said I did check the box and wanted me to give him information about my insurance. I said I made a mistake and I did not want a quote. He said fine and hung up.
The next day I had an e-mail from Nationwide Insurance saying they wanted to quote my insurance coverage. That afternoon I got another call from Nationwide. I again told them I must have not checked or checked the wrong box and I did not want a quote. He said I did check the box and to give him the information about my insurance. I told him no. I had made a mistake checking a box. He persisted. I told him I did not want a quote. He hung up.
I haven't heard from them since.
What ever you do make sure you have the proper box checked when signing up to the scanner.
OT but:
If you need to know where Dale Jarrett is this weekend, he is playing golf at the American Century Championship Tournament in Tahoe with a bunch of current and past pro athletes. I believe he is the only auto racer entered in the event. It is currently on the tube.
Pretty sure when (not if) Shore Lodge drops Brian Scott, so will JGR. What a dissapointment. Hes had plenty of time and great equipment and its just not working out. Its a shame, I really thought he had some talent. He ran well in the Trucks, even won a race. Possible replacement? Max Gresham. You heard it here first.
Dear ESPN: How about focusing on the NNS regulars. Forget about the danged Cup drivers who are hogging the spotlight and stealing trophies and winner's purses from the drivers that deserve it and really need it.
PLEASE get Dale Jarrett back and get Rusty OUT of the booth.
Not that NASCAR.com mentioned it, but David Mayhew is the polesitter for tonight. Joey Coulter 2nd. Hornaday and Bodine, the two veterans are 18th and 21st. Now a first time winner looks likely.
Today looks like the top 5 will not have a nationwide series driver at all.
Pretty weird they have two former drivers up there. I would rather have Craven and Tim Brewer!
I'd rather have almost anyone other than Rusty but love DJ and Andy!
In car cams do not show the flow of the race. They are nice to use for a second but not all the time.
Tight shots, two boxes on the screen with both showing tight shots.
Espn showing a race like this is not showing the race.
Zoom back please.
Roland, I just commented on Twitter about how Gibbs needs to get Scott out of the 11 car. Been saying this for weeks. He just isn't a good fit. Not sure who they would get until you mentioned Max Gresham. Did read some good things about him. They need to cut Scott loose soon to save some equipment.
Wow! An NNS driver finally got some camera time. Too bad he had to spin out to get it.
And now we get the pit stop 3 car split - all Cup drivers.
Charlie, well said and on the money.
Of course Scott is not very good, but I think putting Brad Coleman in a full time ride would have been more beneficial. Of course now he and Matt DiBenedetto are out of the development level entirely as well. A line up of Herring in the 20, McDowell in the 18 and Coleman in the 11, McDowell has shown he does well in the 18.
Coleman never really showed me anything when he ran back in 07-08. Thats the kind of driver that needs to go run the truck series and get some experience. Michael McDowell is a very underrated driver. One day I hope he gets the chance to run the full race in all the races for a good team. I had no idea who Drew Herring was till last year, and to be honest I still dont. But he has been fast. Im all for some new faces breaking into Nascar. Nascar is getting stale
Adam, I think those kinds of stories should be what is on the pre-race, not Cup crapola!
From what I can see, if your favorite driver is not around a cup driver or not a driver for Rusty you will not get much air time. If you driver gets in a wreck you may get air time during a replay.
Yay Edwards is out. Go Bayne!
Or if you're leading the race, like Bayne is right now :)
Anyone expect Carl Edwards to join them on pit road?
Charlie is on the money! How can a NW team owner get sponsorship when he does not get air time. All they do is promote the cup affiliated teams.
Espn should just go full screen on Carl Edwards car in the garage. It means so much to the NNS.
So ARCA starts at 5pm eastern time on Speed. Wonder how many viewer will switch.
Oh, Carl will go up to the booth. LOL! He likes running up through the crowd. Sorry, just had to say it.
They have a segment about Jeff Gordon being a role model and then wonder why the NW teams are dropping like flys?
Surprised ESPN didnt just sign off when Edwards blew up. If Kyle falls out of this thing then they probably will lol. Those 2 are the Nationwide Series according to ESPN.
PRN using tweets from media members to update fans. Cool stuff.
JD, if i had a say in things, I think honestly this would be my lineup:
Stenhouse
Bayne
Allgaier
Sorenson
McDowell
Herring
Coleman
Sadler
Steve, Kenny and Mike Wallace (I still feel the latter two need better equipment)
Annett
Leffler
Wimmer (in KHI equipment)
Shelby Howard (in KHI Equipment)
and some others.
That would be my dream NW Series race. But I won't be getting that pipe dream.
Does anyone besides me think they just ran through the top 12 because Steve Wallace was running 12th?
Thanks for the Twitter shoutout JD!
I tried.
Honestly, I really tried, but I can't listen to Rusty anymore. I'll follow along here, but will be tinkering on an old car the rest of the day and not in front of the TV.
Thank you Rusty, I may actually get something done this afternoon.
5 second lead for Bayne. If Trevor wins this, it'll be very well deserved.
Well forget that dominating performance.
Just mute ESPN and listen to the radio! Try the "I heart radio" app and get PRN and MRN stations online.
WEBO and WYSH are carrying todays race
Didn't mention what the caution was for. did I miss it??
You know that eHarmony ad, the guy that talks, well Marty could take that guys place. They both have the same sing-song type voice.
Clean up crew found no debris. Must have been blown away....
@Debby, debris
Dr. Neil Clark Warren is the founder, he can talk all he wants.
Mystery Mikey Kile wreck.
Daly Planet Editor said...
Just mute ESPN and listen to the radio! Try the "I heart radio" app and get PRN and MRN stations online.
July 16, 2011 4:39 PM
This is a somewhat acceptable option, but when one is sitting there staring at a large HD TV with a pretty decent surround sound system, going to a radio broadcast for the audio kind of dilutes the experience. I'll listen to the race in the garage and hit his blog every now and then.
Surprised me to find he is actually a Christian minister interested in uniting Christian couples.
Not too sure if the eHarmony come on is a bit deceiving or not.
Totally agree with that. Have fun in the man cave.
Penalty coming for Steven? that was rather unnecessary.
That's one way to shut Rusty up..
Speak up Rusty!!!
Looks like someone got in the way of the Steven Wallace. What do you think Rusty.
ahhh, the awkward moment when Steve Wallace wrecks someone and Rusty goes silent.
Not the first run in between the 2. 2009 Daytona NNS race.
Wow now Rusty breaks the silence, and refuses to blame Steven. Espn's credibility continues to plunge
did I hear Leffler mention Rusty when they tracked his radio right after the crash?
Hey Rusty, the word you're looking for is 'objective'. I know it's hard for you to be. You blew it.. nobody is buying your excuses..
Steven is another one that we love to watch tear up equipment. Rusty was very quiet at first. Now not so much trying to find another reason for the wreck. Get them both out of there!
Anon - I swear I heard that too, I thought i misinterpreted that.
Let's get Rusty to team up with Bruton. That way, we can fix the traffic at KY, make Steve a quality driver, and end world hunger - all before the next debris caution!
Heard 38 scanner say "is that just another racing incident, Rusty?"
Now we hear Rusty and all his doubletalk. There's no conflict here!
What a delicate moment. Crusty's kid wrecks Leffler and Wallace had a camera in the car! Stephen probably thought the production truck wouldn't show the in-car in deference to his father. That Wallace kid is a real piece of work! It was really quiet in the booth for a while. Very awkward.
Well, I stuck around long enough to see that. THIS IS WHY RUSTY SHOULD NOT BE ON ANY NASCAR BROADCAST. PERIOD. Now to the 'man cave.' Thanks JD for this blog.
Didn't Rusty & Steven get called to the Nascar hauler a few races ago for something Steven did?? Never heard anything else.
CALLED IT
And there he is!!!
Someone wins a prize.. Edwards in the studio.
This is where ESPN has no credibility--no disclaimer that Rusty owns two cars--his son is racing & two brothers....As much as Rusty can be a tool--he is in a no win situation...
Carl in the infield pit studio.
Totally not surprised at all to see Carl in the pit studio. Someone on here called it earlier. I guess this is the reason they didnt sign off lol
Carl is honing his broadcast skills, why not the current crop makes it look easy! And its a great way to supplement your income.
I can tell you what happened. Steve Wallace hit the guy and spun him out.
ESPN using Rusty while Steven is racing not the same as it was for Ned Jarret and Dale.
WOW a smooker!!!! Great call. You know at least on person in the booth has driven the COT and has some insight as to this cars tendencies!
At least Carl adds something to the broadcast unlike Brad.
I'm as big a Rusty fan as you are, but I'm amazed more people aren't placing any blame on Ricky for pushing Steve right into Jason. (Carl Edwards at least alluded to it.)
Actually, Jason noticed that himself - I guess current drivers make better commentators?
Anonymous said...
ESPN using Rusty while Steven is racing not the same as it was for Ned Jarret and Dale.
July 16, 2011 4:59 PM
Ned was a PROFESSIONAL
There you go! Another profile in courage. Carl Edwards has no comment on Wallace obviously coming down on Leffler. Absolutely disgusting. Happens all the time. Hour after hour these idiots aren't bashful about giving you their opinion whether you want it or not, but they shut up when something controversial happens
Ned Jarrett was able to pretend Dale was not his son, of course 1993 Daytona 500 not withstanding, but why not? :)
I am switching to ARCA on Speed.
I want to watch a race.
Edwards in the studio is taking away from the race. I guess it wasn't enough that it happens out on the track.
JD, any idea if Carl Edwards will be a part of the ESPN post-race coverage like he was last season?
Like him or not, he does give good insights.
No news yet, but he is clearly their future star.
The problem is that ESPN wants to be the Cup TV guys and this is the NNS coverage.
Why not invite champ contender Jason Leffler into the studio?
They would never hear of it.
Agreed, JD.
Let ESPN keep cup coverage and move NNS to Speed.
Had enough of ESPN's Cup driver love affair! Switched to the ARCA race on Speed.
Ned Jarrett was a complete professional. He kept his emotions in check at Daytona until his PRODUCER told him to BE A DAD!! Rusty should take lessons. Better yet - get him out of the booth!
Just watched a whole segment of the ARCA race, commercial to commercial and not one in-car cam shot.
Most camera shots had 5+ cars in it.
Its turning into Carl overload. Im suprised he didnt bring Subway or grass seed, ol wait thats Mickey. If I was Ricky I go home.
and ESPN calls this good coverage? 8 or 9 laps there and not one word from the PxP guy. I know it's just Marty, but still. Just useless banter between drivers answering questions they already know the answers to.
Wooo hooo laffs a minute with
at least 5 folks in the booth. Near
the end of the race.
Of course anyone in the booth..
who can serve to limit the comments
of "" we dont NEED REED "" is
fine with me
Ooops worstwick back at it with
his yelling ...Peace out
Really creative with that unsponsored Roush car this week.
Anyone else notice how Carl Edwards' in the booth makes all the other Talking Heads sound really lame?
How hilarious was that? Only Edwards and Craven had a clue.
Rusty is just sooooo totally lost.
That is the difference between current knowledge and bilge that we have become so used to.
If Espn wanted to save a LOT of money, they could hire Carl Edwards and fire all those other 'experts' in the booth. Carl is like a breath of fresh air- no BS, no theorizing and no war stories.
I ahve always been amazed that they hire these guys in the first place, they are not that articulate and again, I do not wnat my kids talking like Larry Mac
Hate to pile on, but Rusty in the booth needs to go away. Not because he has a son in the race but because he has nothing to say.
Too bland. Like an infomercial host you see at 3 a.m. on a sleepless night
Let the smashing begin!
11 Laps to go. NNS race.
WOW!!!!!!!!
Nice going Stephen! Great job! Wallace sure did wad up a lot of cars! His Dad must really be proud. Yeah, right
Who just said, "That was definitely Stephen's fault"?
From reporter MonteDutton:
Regarding his son, wonder if Rusty occasionally feels some kinship with Sheriff Buford T. Justice?
You just gotta love it, sitiin in the booth, gettin the check and watchin my boy race, OMG what was that, NEPOTISM the NASCAR WAY
What else could he say?
Okay Rusty, you get a brownie point for fessing up and saying that Steven Wallace got into Logano who got into Bayne.
Still too bad that we have to put up with you untill 2014.
Ole Steve just ran out of talent...would he even be in that car without Pops....I don't think so--
I'm just glad they were able to get some more commercials in after going to commercial with 21 to go and not coming back until 13 to go.
Ain't life grand
What a joke!!
Lord, what a momentum killer.
Thought I'd crawl out of the garage and watch the end of this and what happens? They Wrecked-um!
I'll tell you what,
No doubt about it.
Rusty does not belong on TV
saw some of this on tv at the Y on the treadmill...for that 30 minutes when I looked, not too many in car cams but obviously still no wide shots? Haven't read thru all comments left.
Just turned on the tv at home after missing an hour since the Y with 5 laps to go and a demolition derby broke out.:(
Is that Carl E in the booth??????????????????
Why? I so am not a fan of his but who elected him the spokesman...give me Jeff Gordon ANY day...nice classy articulate guy to represent the sport.
Boy, that Brian Scott has a lot of nerve making contact with Stephen Wallace. Brian UPSET Stephen!
Oh yes - Stephen has huge reason to be hot under the collar! NOT
Preserve the equiptment, a new racing term
Now KB wants a red flag because HE might run out of gas?? Figures - any race where anyone with initials KB wins is a waste of my viewing time.
Marty Reed do we have to live with him all the reat of the season?
Let's keep an eye on pit road.
Surprised that ESPN is staying on this long prempting their precious Sportscenter.
Kenny Wallace gets another 6th place finish, can't seem to get that Top 5. At least he's getting these good finishes. 7th and 6th seems to be his commonplace finish.
No Steven Wallace interview. Come on man.
7:30PM tonight for Truck Series on SPEED. See you then!
Steven was interviewed on PRN. Said the 38 came up and wrecked himself. Asked if he would speak to Leffler, he said that they never spoke after the 2009 Daytona incident, so no. Interesting to note this was the first post race interview for PRN, and Espn didnt even bother. Wow
Reason Gibbs has Brian Scott.
The resort was purchased in late August of this year by local businessmen Joe Scott of Alscott Real Estate LLC, Rich Hormaechea of RMH Company, and John Sabala of Sabala Whitetail LLC.
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